It’s been a busy year so far (to say the least), and now with the “civilized” world grinding to a halt, it might be good to pause and reflect that the rest of the world goes on. My suggestion: find a way to get outdoors, while maintaining your social distance.

On that subject, IMHO the best way to get past this current unpleasantness is that social distancing. The virus needs humans to make more of itself, and if we deny it that, it’ll die back.

I had planned to spend a day at Croft State Park, but found they’re now closed on the day I showed up (I now see where SC state parks are just closed for the duration; sigh). So I made the best of it, took a walk in the local woods, and as the day warmed up, broke in my 2020 boat permit.

Recent rains had plenty of water pouring out the lake overflow.

and some of the trails along the creek were pretty soggy from the slosh-over.

In the woods, it’s a lot harder to spot the wildlife, but this Chipping Sparrow came out on the path long enough to snap some pictures:

Up topside, the high water level let me get into those little nooks and crannies around the lake I like to poke into, like this little spot with a small feeder bubbling into the lake up at the far end, almost like a miniature waterfall:

The sun poked through the clouds occasionally, but that was enough to bring out the turtles. Two’s company:

but maybe three’s a crowd:

Five definitely is a crowd:

Up above the lake, I didn’t see many Great Blue Herons around (sorry, no obligatory GBH picture this time), but the Double-Crested Cormorants were all up and down the lake.

I’ve said it before, just when I think I’ve seen it all, Nature throws something else up in my face, like the Chipping Sparrow mentioned above, which I saw for the first time. I also spotted a couple little creatures on a tree trunk. Maybe they climbed up there to escape the rising waters, as this tree would normally be on dry land.

That wasn’t a lot of wildlife pictures from out on the lake, so I’ll fill in with a few from a busy backyard feeder.

Lots of comings and going, a Blue Jay comes, a Red-Bellied Woodpecker goes…

Mourning Dove approaches:

Mourning Dove and Tufted Titmouse share the seeds:

No mistaking the Northern Cardinal, and downstairs a Dark-eyed Junco:

Now it’s the Blue Jay‘s turn to bolt. Gear up!